Thompson told The Star: “For Matt and Sean, it is about being in a first-team environment.

“They have been terrific for us but they are at that age where they need to be playing matches.

“Matt and Sean are good players and the key, as it is for anybody, is transfering the game they have into the first-team environment. The pressure and intensity of the matches is completely different.

“It is alright playing in front of 50 to 100 people in a development match but there are thousands of people watching first-team football every week. It is about handling the occasion and not being afraid of it.”